Milk cooler, aerator, and separator.



P. 0. HIRSCH. MILK COOLER, AE RATOR, AND SEPARATOR.

Patented May I5, 1900.

(Application filed Feb. 2?, 1900) 2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

No. 649,604 Patented May I5, 1900.

P. 0. mason.

MILK COOLER, AERATOR, AND SEPABATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 27. 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shaet 2.

L%HTED STATES PATENT (juries.

rnimr 0. ninscn, or NORFOLK, NEBRASKA;

MILK COOLER, AERATOR, AND sEPAaAroa;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,604., dated May 15,1960.

Application filed February 27, 1900. Serial No. 6,707. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern: 7

Be itknown that I, PHILIP O. HIRSOH, a citizen of the United States,anda resident of N (in folk, Madison county, State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Milk Coolers, Aerators,and Separators; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention isset forth in the following full, clear, and exact description,terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to milk-coolers, and more especially to thatclass thereof which involv'e-s the circulation of the milk; and theobject of the same is to produce a combined milk-cooler andcream-separator.

To this end the invention consists in an apparatus whose preferred formof construction is hereinafter more fully described and claimed and asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is acentral vertical section of this combined milk-cooler andcream-separator complete. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the receiver,taken from the under side. Fig. 3 is a detail of one of a number ofplugsIsometimes employ for retarding the flow of milk from the receiver.Fig. 4. is a perspective detail of the water-tank viewed from the upperside and the stopper thereof removed and viewed from the under side.Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cooling-chamber and stand-pipelooking obliquely into the top of the former, whose near side is brokenaway, the walls of these parts being here shown as perforated, which isa modified construction I may sometimes use. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of the separating-chamber viewed from the upper side.

The receioer.-In the present case this comprises a cylindrical body 1,having near its lower edge internal feet 2 to rest on the upper edge ofthe cooling-chamber described below. The bottom 3 of the reservoirinclines from its periphery, which is secured within the body aboutmidway between its upper and lower edges,downward and inward to itscenter, from which rises a cone 4, surrounded by a number of finefeed-openings 5. In Fig. 2 is shown a spreader 6, consisting in thepresent instance of a narrow strip of metal corrugated into star shapeand secured beneath the center of the bottom 3, so that the openings 5stand above the reentrant angles. I

The regulator-Jo Fig. 3 is shown a plug, which consists of a cylindricalbody 10, fiattened on opposite sides at its upper end, as at 11, andhaving an enlarged head 12 projecting from the edges of said flattenedportions. In some cases grooves 13 may be cut into these flattenedportions and may grow deeper toward their upper extremities, which meet'in a notch 14, passing transversely across the head. The body of thisplug is of a size to loosely fit one of the feed-openings 5, and when inplace its flattened sides and its grooves and notch restrict but permitthe flow of liquid through this opening, as described below.

The water-tanYa-Jn Fig. at is best seen the Water-tank, which hereconsists of a cylindrical body 20, with a flat bottom 21, ha'ving acentral depending exhaust-tube 22, adapted to be closed by a cork 23,which can be hung on a chain 24. Said bottom has feet 25 raising itslightly above the bottom of the cooling-chamberhereinafterdescribed.Theside walls of the body are perfectly vertical, while the top 26inclines upward from its periphcry to acentral raised collar 27,surrounding the inlet-opening, and into which collar said chain 24 maybe attached, so that it can be reached and the cork withdrawn fromabove. lwo or more handles 28 may be secured, as by hinges, upon thistop 26.

The st0ppe-1".Fig. l also best shows the stopper for said inlet-opening,which consists of a cap 30 of a size to surround the collar 27 andclosed at its top by a cover 31, which is slightly convex on top and ofgreater diameter than the cap 30, so as to form a projecting andencircling flange 32. Surrounding the cap 30 is a collector, whichconsists of a wide sheet-metal strip 33, secured at its inner edge tothe lower end of the cap 30 and diverging radially and rising graduallyupward in all directions therefrom, so as tocatch the liquid fallingfrom the spreader and convey it inward toward the cap. Through thiscollector, near the cap, are formed holes 34:, through which the liquiddrips onto the water-tank, as described below.

The cooling-chamber.This term is used to cover that portion of thedevice wherein the cooling of the milk takes place and which isobviously produced by the watertank. The chamber itself is the spacesurrounded by a cylinder 40, which fits within the lower end of thereceiver, so that the feet in the latter rest on the upper end of thecylinder, as above described. The bottom 41 of this cylinder inclinesfrom its periphery inward to a large annular groove 42,which surrounds aflange 43, which in turn surrounds a central opening 44. The bottom ofthe groove is formed by a strip having outlet-holes 45,

whereby the milk flowing down the bottom' 41 drops into the groove andthrough the holes. The outer wall of the groove is preferably an uprightcollar 46, fitting into the stand-pipe next described, although it willbe clear that this collar and stand-pipe could be made in one piece.

The stand-pipe-This consists of an upright cylinder 50, preferablyhaving near its lower end ahead 51, below which it may be reduced, as at52, for a purpose to be described. In, Fig. 1 the cylinders 40 and 50are shown as of solid sheet metal, while in Fig. 5 they are shown asprovided with large perforations 48 and 58. The latter is a modifiedconstruction which I may employ, if desired, for the purpose ofadmitting air to the flowing milk, so as to effect its aeration.

The separat0r.-Fig. 6 best shows this as consisting of a cylindricalbody 60, having a perforated flange 61 at its lower edge to admit airbeneath its bottom 62. The latter is preferably inclined toward a cookor faucet 63 for drawing off the milk from beneath the cream whendesired. The top 64 of this separator may be flat or also inclined, andit is surrounded by a flange 65, which may be pierced with inlet andoutlet openings, so that a constant stream of cold water can passover-this top and around the channel formed between the outer flange (35and an inner flange 66. The lower end 52 of the stand-pipe fits intothis flange, (or might in some cases be made a part thereof,) and thelarge central opening 44 from the cooling-chamber is continued downwardthrough the stand-pipe and through the top 64 of the separator into thechamber therein.

All parts are of the desired sizes, proportions, and materials,preferably tin or galvanized sheet metal. Aside from the details abovementioned the exact shape of parts is immaterial, though I prefer tomake them of cylindrical contour for the sake of greater cheapness andease in cleaning.

\Vith the above construction of parts .the Inilkis poured into thereceiver and flows down the bottom thereof through the holes around thecone, its passage therethrough being more or less restricted by theregulator, if desired, so that the milk will pass very slowly, indeed,out of the receiver for a pur pose to appear below. Flowing past thespreader 6, it drops onto the convex cover 31 of the stopper, flows overits flange and falls into the collector 33, and is thereby carriedinward again and drops through the holes 34 onto the top 26 of the tank,which has previously been filled with cold water or water and ice.Spreading out into a very thin sheet, it flows outward over this top anddown the sides of the tank, which are. slightly remote from thesurrounding walls of the cylinder comprising the cooling-chamber.Trickling off the tank, it falls onto the bottom 41, whereby it isdirected inward into the groove 42. Dropping thence through the holes45, it flows down theinner face of the cylinder 50, comprising thestand-pipe, and finally reaches the separating-chamber, wherein .itaccumulates and is kept cool in the manner above described, and itsdepth is seen on an indicator 100. In the practical use of this device alarge quantity of milk is poured at one time into the receiver; but theopenings in the bottom thereof are so fine that it trickles very slowlyout of this receiver, whereby its passage along the course outlinedabove is very slow, and especially over the water-tank, in anextremely-thin sheet. By this operation the animal heat it taken outbefore it can produce any bad effect on the milk and the butter-fat, thechance for fermentation is thus greatly reduced, the butter-fat willbind itself more readily, and thorough aeration of the milk will beeffected, especially if the parts are provided with the large holes 48and 58, as shown. Those in the coolingchamber allow the air to gainaccess to the milk flowing over the water-tank, thus aerating the outersurface of the sheet simultaneously with the cooling of its innersurface, while the holes in the wall of the stand-pipe where the sheetflows across them permit the air to gain access to both faces of thethin sheet of milk,-thus aerating it on both surfaces simultaneously. Inthe collector 33 and in the groove 42 may be placed a small quantity ofice, as shown in dotted lines. The ice in the collector is melted ratherrapidly by the Warmth of the inflowing milk, while that in the groovemelts rather slowly, because the milk flowing overit is cooled. Thewater resulting from the melting of the ice at both places mingles withthe milk, and as the latter flows slowly down the inner face of thesta'ndpipe the watery substance, being heavier and thinner, willseparate itself from the cream and from the butter-fat. This separationalso takes place when the liquid comes to rest in theseparating-chamber, and an experienced eye can detect through theindicator 100 the lines of demarcation between the various grades ofliquid therein. After all the milk has passed into the separatingchamberand stood there for some little time the different grades of liquid aredrawn off one at a time from the bottom by means of the faucet, as willbe clearly understood.

shown, the indicator must be close to the fanbet, which latter is at thelowest point of the slanting bottom. The ice may be renewed from time totime in an obvious manner, and when the cork is withdrawn by means ofthe chain the water in the tank flows through the other parts andcleanses them.

IVhat is claimed as new is- 1. A milk cooler comprising a receiver whosebottom is inclined inward and provided with feed-openings near itscenter, a spreader beneath said openings, a collector beneath thespreader and adapted to contain ice, a coolin g-tank beneath thecollector over which the milk flows in a thin sheet, a cooling-chambersurrounding said tank and having an inwardly-inclined bottom,anuprightstand-pipe into which said bottom delivers, and aseparating-chamber, all as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A milk cooler comprising a receiver whose bottom is inclined inwardand provided with feed-openings near its center, a coolingtank beneaththe openings and over which the milk flows in a thin sheet, acooling-chamber surrounding said tank and having an inwardly-inclinedbottom with a large central opening, an annular groove surrounding thisopening and adapted to contain ice, the bottom of the groove havingholes, an upright stand-pipe to whose inner face the milk is deliveredby said holes, and a separating-chamber, as and for the purpose setforth.

3. In a milk-aerator, the combination with a cooling-tank upon which themilk is delivered and over which it flows in a thin sheet; of acooling-chamber surrounding said tank and having means for permittingthe aeration of the exterior of said sheet, an upright standpipe downwhose inner face the milk next flows, the body of this pipe beingpierced with a number of large openings whereby air is admitted to bothsurfaces of the milk, and a separatingchamber beneatl1,all as and forthe purpose set forth.

4. In a milk-aerator, the combination with a cooling-tank upon which themilk is delivered and over which it flows in a thin sheet; of acooling-chamber comprising a cylinder surrounding and remote from saidtank and pierced with a number of openings whereby air is admitted tothe exterior of said thin sheet, an upright stand-pipe down whose innerwall the milk next flows in a thin sheet, means for admitting air to theinner face of this sheet, and a collecting-chamber, as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In a device of the character described,the combination with acooling-tank over which the milk flows, and an upright stand-pipe downwhose inner face the cooled milk passes in a thin sheet; of aseparating-chamber having an inclined bottom with a cock at its low estpoint, means for cooling the bottom there of, an inlet-opening throughthe top of the chamber to which said stand-pipe delivers, and a channelaround said opening adapted to carry a stream of cold water, all as andfor the purpose set forth.

6. In a milk-cooler, the combination with the cooling-tank, thecooling-chamber comprising a cylinder surrounding and rising above saidtank, and an outlet from this cylinder; of the receiver consisting of acylinder larger than that of the chamber, feet within the largercylinder resting on the upper edge of the smaller, an inwardly-inclinedbottom in the receiver having feed-openings near its center, and aspreader consisting of a narrow corrugated sheet secured beneath saidbottom with its reentrant angles below said openings, as and for thepurpose set forth.

7. In a device of the character described,the combination with areceiver having fine feedopenings in its bottom, and the coolingmechanism located beneath said holes; of regulators consisting of anumber of plugs each having a cylindrical body adapted to fit one holeand a large head at its upper end slightly flattened on its oppositesides, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a device of the character described,the combination with areceiver having fine feedopenings in its bottom, and the coolingmechanism located beneath said holes; of regulators consisting of anumber of plugs each having a cylindrical body adapted to fit one holeand a large head at its upper end slightly fiattened on its oppositesides, said sides also being provided with grooves growing deeper towardthe upper end and connected by anotch passing across the head, as andfor the purpose set forth.

9. In a milk-cooler, the combination with the cooling-chamber, anexhaust therefrom, and a receiver supported thereby and havingfeed-openings at its center; of a water-tank comprising a cylindricalbody smaller than said chamber, a flat bottom provided with feet, a topinclining upward from the periph cry to a central raised collar, a capremovably surrounding the collar, a closed convex cover on the cap andhaving a flange projecting beyond it, and a collector surrounding thecap and delivering the milk onto the top of the tank around said collar,as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a milk-cooler, the combination with a chamber at the bottom, astand-pipe rising therefrom, and a cooling-chamber whose bottom deliversto the inner wall of said standpipe; of a receiver having feed-openingsin its bottom, and a water-tank removably insorted within saidcooling-chamber and having a central exhaust-tube in its bottom, a corkclosing the same, a water-inlet in its top surrounded by a collar, achain attached within the collar and connected to the cork, and astopper covering the collar and directing the milk from saidfeed-openings onto the top of the tank, all as and for the purpose setforth.

11. In a milk-cooler, the combination with the receiver vvh ose bottomis inclined inward and provided with feed-"openings near its center, aspreaderbeneath said openings, a cooling-tank located beneath thespreader, and a separating-chamber; of a collector between said spreaderand tank, and a cap removably closing the inlet-opening to the tank andextending permanently through the center of said collector, all as andfor the purpose set forth.

12. In a milk-cooler, the combination with the cooling-tank, and meansfor delivering the milk onto and passing it over the same; of a cylindersurrounding the tank and having an inwardly-inclined bottom with a large1 l l r central opening, a depending collar around said opening, a stripsecured Within the collar and having an upright flange forming a PHILIPO. HIRSCII.

Witnesses:

EMIL KoEHN, HARRY LODER.

